Please turn with me to Romans chapter 8 - starting at verse 1.  As your turning there - in order to get us thinking about the choices we make in life - we’ll start with a couple of choices.

First choice:   “Join the Darkside and get a free cookie.”  To join or not to join.

“Oliver, I’ve just received a refund check from the I.R.S. computer.  It’s for $1.8 million.”  “Oh, that’s great, Pop.  Buy yourself a new car.”

“Now look here, Mister Hacker…”  “Listen, Dad… if you don’t keep it, I’ll just go build nuclear bombs.”

“Now son.. That’s a..uh, that’s… well..er.  Look… I don’t need these moral dilemmas..”  “Buicks or bombs, Pop.  Cinch.”

Every day we’re confronted with a number of choices.   We’ve seen that behind every choice we make is one basic bottom line choice.  Which is what?   To turn towards God or to turn away from God.   God is gracious to us giving us the choice to turn towards Him and His grace.

Have you ever been up I5 towards Redding - about 100 miles away you can see Mount Shasta - just growing and getting larger as you travel north.  This huge majestic mountain over 14,000 feet tall rising up over the foothills.

What we’re coming to here in chapter 8 - starting at verse is like that.  The high point - the focal point - of Paul’s teaching about God’s grace and what it means for us to choose to turn towards God.

Romans 8 - starting at verse 1:  Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Let’s pause there.  Verse 1 is one of the most significant verses in all of Scripture.  Look with me at what Paul is writing here. 

First this word - “Therefore.”  And whenever we see a “therefore” in Scripture we have to ask, “Wherefore the therefore?”  Therefore refers back to what Paul has been writing about - what we’ve been looking at over the last few Sundays.

In chapter 6 - Paul wrote about God’s compelling grace.

Grace is what?  God’s undeserved favor towards us.

God - sends Jesus to the cross to die for us.  Because God - who is grace - demonstrates His graciousness - by doing what we could never earn or measure up to - or do for ourselves - no matter how many righteous and holy things we could try doing.

In chapter 6 Paul asked the question:  If we know and experience God’s grace how could we ever even think about turning away from God?  Turning towards God and His grace should be a no brainer choice for us. 

In the first part of chapter 7 - Paul wrote about the law - God showing us where we fall short of His absolute standard of holiness.  Trying to live in a holy relationship with the holy God - we just don’t have what it takes.  And the law - God’s given to us explanation of what it means to live holy with the holy God - the law just points out where we continually fall short - and that the consequences for our failure are really - really - bad:  eternal death - eternal separation from God and eternal punishment.

All of which should drive us to the no brainer choice of choosing to turn towards God and His grace.

In the last part of chapter 7 - Paul shares from his heart about his own struggle with sin.  Paul knows God’s grace.  Yet he also knows his own failure.  No matter how many times he may decide to turn towards God - no matter how great his will power in wanting to turn towards God - he continually fails at living obedient to God.  Continually Paul falls short of God’s holiness.   A struggle that we can all relate to.  Yes?

Paul concludes - chapter 7 - verse 24:  “Wretched man that I am!  Who will set me free from the body of this death?  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Our only hope is God’s undeserved grace.  In Jesus God - by His grace - pays the penalty for our sin - forgives sin - restores us to a right - holy - relationship with Him.  Sin may win battles.  But sin will not win the war. 

All of that is in this therefore - here at the beginning of verse 1.  Therefore - because of all that God graciously has done for us in Jesus Christ - there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

That really is one of the great truths of Scripture.  Amen?  Let’s declare this together:  “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

We need let that great truth sink into our hearts.

Do you remember the scene recorded in John 8?  Early in the morning Jesus comes to the Temple.  A crowd gathers.  Jesus sits down and begins to teach this crowd.  The Pharisees drag in this woman - caught in the act of adultery.  Do you remember this?

It’s a set-up.  They knew where to find her and when.  The fact that its morning - they probably had been watching this adultery go on for some time.  We have to wonder where their minds were at - vicariously participating in sin and judging others for it.

They drag this woman - probably naked - to the very center of the court of God’s Temple and with dripping hypocrisy remind Jesus of the seventh commandment “You shall not commit adultery” - and the legal requirement of death.

The response of Jesus is powerful.  It confronts the unrepentant pride of the Pharisees and touches the pain of the adulterer’s heart.  This woman who’s been dragged before this crowd in shame - deserving of death.  Jesus words, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

The Pharisees leave.  Jesus and this woman are alone - at center court.  There were probably crowds still there - noise and confusion.  But the scene focuses only on Jesus and this woman.  Its a moment frozen in time. 

“Woman, where are they?  Did no one condemn you?”  Same word as in Romans 8:1 - “condemnation.”  It’s the Greek word “katakrino.”  It means to put someone under judgment.  They’ve been found lacking - failing to live up to the law - the legal standard.  They’ve been judged.  They stand convicted.  They’re ready for punishment.

“Woman, where are they?  Did no one condemn you?” 

She said, “No one, Lord.”  She’s come to call upon Jesus as her Lord.  Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either.  Go.  From now on sin no more.”  (John 8:1-11)

All of us have prostituted ourselves with sin - lived in spiritual adultery - failing to live in purity with God.  The law says, “If you sin you die.”  Without Jesus - trying on our own - trying to live by the law - we live under that condemnation.

Yet God in Jesus has set us free from the law.  What Jesus says to this woman is true for each one of us who fall short and yet have turned towards God and His grace in Jesus.  “I don’t condemn you.”

David - perhaps the most famous adulterer in history - is called a man after God’s heart.  Rahab - the prostitute - owner of brothel - is given a place of honor in the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah.  The Bible - from cover to cover - is a testimony of sin - and of the redemptive - healing - restoring work of God.

Grab this:  For those in Christ - for those trusting in Jesus as their savior - condemnation does not come from God.  God does not condemn us.  Let’s say that together:  “God does not condemn us.”

Say this to yourself:  “God does not condemn me.”

Share that with the person next to you.  “God does not condemn you.”

We need to let the reality of that great truth sink into our hearts each day of our lives.  Amen?

Now let’s be honest - that truth is a hard one to let sink in.  Isn’t it?  Two reasons.  See  if you agree with these.  First:  While condemnation doesn’t come from God it does come from others.  Would you agree with that?

We live in a world where we’re constantly measured by external standards - what we do - what we have - who we know - having the right education - the right job - the right promotion - the right position - the right abilities.  Standards - expectations - we know we can never live up to.  And we know we shouldn’t buy into this.  But we do.

Condemnation can run even deeper.  We carry around in us voices of condemnation that have trained us so well to reject God’s grace.  Parents.  Siblings.  So-called friends.  Co-workers.  Satan - the Adversary himself.  Sometimes with words.  Sometimes with actions.  Over and over again the reinforced message of condemnation.

“I wish you’d never been born.”  “You were an accident.”  “No one could ever love you.”  “You don’t have what it takes.”  “You’ll never amount to anything.”  “You are such a failure.”  “Look at how you’ve messed up your life.”  “How could God ever use someone like you?”

Hal Lindsey - remember him?  Hal Lindsey shares an account of a girl who was the daughter of one the royal families of Europe.  She had a big, bulbous nose that destroyed her beauty in the eyes of others - and especially in her own eyes.  She grew up with this terrible image of herself as an ugly person.  So her family hired a plastic surgeon to change the contour of her nose.

He did the surgery, and there came the moment when they took the bandages off and the girl could see what happened.  When the doctor removed the bandages, the doctor saw that the operation had been a complete success.  All the ugly contours were gone.  Her nose was different.  When the incisions healed and the redness disappeared, she would be a beautiful girl.

But so deeply embedded was this girl’s ugly image of herself that when she saw herself in the mirror, she couldn’t see any change.  She broke into tears and cried out, “Oh, I knew it wouldn’t work!”

The doctor worked with that girl for six months before she would finally accept the fact that she was indeed different.  When the moment came that she accepted the fact that she really was different, her whole behavior began to change. (1)

We are so conditioned - by how we’ve been brought up - by where we live - to accept what is an outright lie.  If God does not condemn us - who are these people who do?  What right do they have to usurp God?

The second reason why God’s “no condemnation” is hard for us:  While condemnation doesn’t come from God it does come from us - from within.  Would you agree with that?

Do you recognize this man?  Captain Chesley Sullenberger - US Airways Flight 1549 - on January 15th - left New York’s La Guardia airport for a non-stop flight to the Hudson River.  You all saw this?  Right?  At take off two Canadian geese took out the two engines on the plane.  Captain Sullenberger became a national hero after safely landing the plane on the Hudson River and saving all 155 people on board.

Sullenberger said, “I was sure I could do it.  I think, in many ways, as it turned out, my entire life up to that moment had been a preparation to handle that particular moment.”

It was an amazing bit of flying.  Some would say miraculous.  The right pilot at the right time in the right place.  It just doesn’t get any better.

In his first major interview - on 60 minutes - Sullenberger said this, “One of the hardest things for me to do in this whole experience was to forgive myself for not having done something else.  Something better.  Something more complete.” (2)

How can he say that?  All 155 people survived.  He’s a national hero.  The whole nation is proud of him.  He was even honored at the Super Bowl. “I need to forgive myself.  I could have done better.”

As a young monk, Martin Luther - the great reformer of our faith - a man used powerfully by God - Martin Luther would spend up to six hours a day racking his brain to confess sins he’d committed the previous day.  He spent days fasting.  Laid for agonizing hours on the cold floor of his cell.  He beat himself.  Always trying to get right with God.

Luther wrote:  “Although I lived a blameless life as a monk, I felt that I was a sinner with an uneasy conscience before God.  I also could not believe that I had pleased Him with my works.  Far from loving that righteous God who punished sinners, I actually loathed Him.  I was a good monk, and I kept my order so strictly that if ever a monk could get to heaven by monastic discipline, I was that monk.  All my companions in the monastery would confirm this… And yet my conscience would not give me certainty, but I always doubted and said, ‘You didn’t do that right.  You weren’t contrite enough.  You left that out of your confession.’” (3)

We’re so cruel to ourselves.  We never let up.  “I’m such a failure - such a jerk.”  “I can never get it right.”  “I’m worthless.”  “I’ve messed up so bad God could never use me.”  “I’m never going to be good enough.”

Ever been there?

We desperately need to let this great truth sink into our hearts.  God does not condemn us.

Verse 2:  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Two trajectories.  Eternal death and eternal life.  Eternal death is forever without God - forever torment - punishment - forever in an extremely nasty - don’t ever go there - place.  Eternal life is forever with God - dwelling with God in a - not to be missed - place.  Are we together?

In the reality of those trajectories is where we live our lives today - depending on which trajectory you’re on - the one leading up or the one leading down - is where we live our lives.  Everyone is on one trajectory or the other.

The trajectory leading down means daily wading hopelessly through the crud of this world.  Living in failure and guilt.  Living under condemnation from others - from ourselves.  Living in sin under condemnation from God.  Always facing forever death and punishment without God

In Jesus - we are set free from all that - put on the trajectory going up.  Freed to live on that trajectory even today.  You are in Christ.

Like the law of gravity - sin still pulls at us.  But the moment we trust in Jesus as our Savior - what He has done for us - there is a new reality in our lives.  In Christ - all that condemns us in this world is not who we are.  In Christ - we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit   We are the forgiven of God.  The spiritually reborn.

Look where Paul goes with this.  Verse 3:  For what the law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did:  sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

I read a great quote in a sermon by Scott Grant - preaching on this passage - Scott Grant says, “When we punish ourselves with guilt, we’re telling God, ‘The sacrifice of your Son is not sufficient.’ ” (4)

Like that woman caught in adultery we need to get our eyes off of what we struggle with - the Pharisees and their condemnation - the crowds and the temptations and sins and the guilt - to get eyes off of what we struggle with and on to Jesus and what God offers us through Him.  We need to see ourselves as God has made us in Christ.

In Christ, who condemns you?  “No one, Lord.”  Freedom comes from God through Christ.  God sets us free.  Let that sink in.  “God sets us free.”  Tell yourself that.  “God sets me free.”  Share that with the person next to you.  “God sets you free.”

Verses 5 to 11 focus on what it means to live free.  Let’s say that together, “What it means to live free.”

What Paul writes here is a contrast between those living by the Spirit - those who are set free by God through Jesus Christ - and those living by the flesh - those living in bondage to the sin of this world. 

Verse 5:  For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Paul’s first contrast emphasizes what people focus their minds on.

The mind set on the flesh is focused on death.  Death that results from sin.  Death that comes from the corruption and decay of what we see going on around us.  Death that results from sin and involves the condemnation of God.

The mind set on the flesh is hostile towards God.  Those with their mind set on the things of this world are living as enemies of God - never subject to Him - never obedient - never surrendered - never able to please God - never able to measure up - always living in failure.

The mind set on the Spirit is focuses on life - on living life with the living God.  They are at peace with God - a deep sense of rest - calm and confidence - even in the midst of what swirls around us.

The mind set on the Spirit lives in friendship with God - subject to God - surrendered - open to God - able to please God and knowing His pleasure.

The emphasis in Paul’s contrast is that those who are set free experience a wholeness in life - an abundant fullness in life - that can only come from God.

Verse 9:  However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.  But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.  If Christ is in you, thought the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.  But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Paul’s second contrast emphasizes what people focus their lives on.

People living by the flesh do not belong to God.  They’re dead spiritually.  They live in sin condemned by God.  Death is something to be feared.  And, it should be.  There is no meaning to life - no purpose - no answers.  There is no hope.  The focus of their lives is one large empty unknown.

Those of us who’ve been set free - made alive - by the Spirit have something totally different to focus our lives on.  We belong to God.  We’re sons and daughters of God - heirs of His kingdom.  A people for God’s own possession that He will not let go of.

While our flesh may drag us into sin - spiritually we’re alive.  We don’t need to focus on what’s dying - the corruption and decay of this world.  But, on what is life.

For us there is meaning to life - purpose - answers - the very power and wisdom to live life is supplied by God Himself.  While we may die physically we look forward to resurrection and life eternal with God.

Do you see what Paul is getting at here - what it means to live free?

To live with our minds and lives focused on the Spirit - to be set free in Jesus Christ - isn’t about being separated from the things of life - taking out the trash - mowing the lawn - doing the dishes - working at a job - the routine stuff of life.  Living life by the Spirit isn’t about living holy - pious lives - thinking heavenly thoughts and quoting Scripture all day - talking in King James English - “Thou art righteous.”  Living by the Spirit isn’t about checking out mentally or living like a hermit.

To live life in the Spirit - set free by Jesus - is a completely different basis for life - a whole different approach - a completely different attitude and perspective - by which we go about living the daily stuff of life in the real world - with all of what that means - and yet experiencing the tremendous variety and awesomeness that God has created for us to enjoy.

To live life set free means that we live life - not with a view of death - as those who are condemned - but to live life focused on God and His graciousness.

Paul’s bottom line comes in verses 12 and 13.  Verse 12:  So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Have you heard this?  “I owe.  I owe.  So its off to work I go.”  Obligation has the idea of debt.  What we owe.  Because of Jesus Christ we don’t owe the flesh ’nothin - nada - zip.  Don’t even give it a second thought.  Been there.  Done that.  Finito.

“To put to death” has the idea of something that we choose to do every day of our lives.  To busy ourselves with the activity of killing whatever we once felt obligated to.

Grab that:  What God gives us is a choice - to live by the Spirit - and so to put to death the deeds of the body - to not go there anymore.

In the parable of the Prodigal Son - you remember how the son went off and blew his inheritance on wine, women, and song?  Ended up hiring himself out to a Gentile - feeding unkosher pigs - what was humiliating for a Jew.  And he’s starving.  Even the pig food starts looking good.

At some point in all that he comes to his senses and decides to head home to his father - who we know welcomes him how?  With grace - with compassion - with love - restoring him - celebrating the return of the son.  (Luke 15:11-32)

Do you ever think about the pigs?  The difference between the son and the pigs.  No pig - wallowing in slop - ever says, “I’m going to get up and go to my father.”  But the son does.

That’s our choice.

When we are in Christ - we’re not obligated to live in the flesh.  We’re not obligated to live life in sin and the slop of this world.  We’re not obligated to live life looking hopelessly at death.  To live as failures - worthless people - condemned by ourselves and others.

We are children of God - our Heavenly Father - set free from condemnation by God through Jesus Christ - who desire to lavish His grace, compassion, and love on us.  To restore us.  To give to us the joy of being in His presence - of living life with Him - now and forever.

Bottom line question:  What are you obligated to?  Condemnation or freedom in Jesus Christ?